Hundreds Gather To Mourn The King Of Pop

Thousands of fans have gathered in public to mourn the death of Prince of Pop Michael Jackson.

Civil rights campaigner the Rev Al Sharpton was among crowds at The Apollo in Harlem, where Jackson gave some of his earliest performances.

A message was posted on the billboard saying: "In memory of Michael Jackson, a true Apollo legend, 1958-2009."

Mr Sharpton made a statement saying: "I have known Michael since we were both teens, worked with him, marched for him, hosted him at our House of Justice headquarters in New York, and we joined together to eulogise our mutual idol, James Brown.

"I have known him at his high moments and his low moments and I know he would want us to pray for his family."

Tearful crowds have lined the streets near the UCLA Medical Centre, where he was rushed after reportedly going into cardiac arrest.

Others in LA headed to his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to leave candles and flowers.

In Times Square in New York, a low groan went up in the crowd when television flashed the news that Jackson had died.

News was being relayed to people by their mobile phones.

Thirty-six-year-old Micheal Harris of New York City read from a message sent to his phone, "No joke. King of Pop is no more."

In the UK revellers at the Glastonbury Festival were gradually hearing the news.

One festival-goer, David Harris, said many of his songs were being played at events on the festival site in Somerset.

The 27-year-old from Oxford said: "We were just partying and people started getting texts saying he was dead.

"Everyone is walking around saying 'Have you heard the news?'

"Michael Jackson is one of those people. He is like Kurt Cobain for people of our generation. He's central to our generation."